Any Guess?

REPORTS conflict, but the auction of Festival Cruises' European Vision in Barbados may have gone forward and a new owner of the ship may be announced this afternoon. However, Festival claims that any ownership transfer of the ship is invalid and "we will sue everybody who took part in such steps," said Festival spokesperson Laura Gilli. She contends that the Barbados judge accepted Festival's motion that a hearing in Genoa must first be held on 21 April, involving Festival's claim for loss of business against the ship's French holding company. "It is possible that such an act [the auction] took place, but they should have waited for the decision of the Barbados court," said Gilli.

[ 04-17-2004: Message edited by: RobHolland ]

Ship sold - Saturday 17, April-2004
by JULIA RAWLINS

The impounded cruise liner European Vision has been sold.

The transaction relating to the sale was completed yesterday after an “in-chambers” hearing in the Court of Appeal.

Now it will be smooth sailing for the new buyers, Compania Naviera Armonia S.A., to complete the sale of the European Vision, which was seized in the Bridgetown Port on January 21.

Then it carried an outstanding debt of 7.5 million euros (about Bds $19.27 million) owed to the French economic group GIE Vision Bail and 1 700 passengers and 800 crew.

This came after last-minute efforts to block the sale of the 3 156- tonne, 824-foot Genoa-registered cruise liner failed yesterday.

Wednesday was the deadline for sealed bids to be submitted by prospective buyers.

But, on that day, the ship’s operators, Festival Crociere SpA, made an urgent application for a stay of execution, which was heard before Mr Justice Christopher Blackman. That hearing went into Thursday.

However, Mr Justice Blackman refused to grant the stay of execution and stated that the sale could go on. He also dismissed applications by the company for leave to go to the Court of Appeal for a stay of execution pending a hearing of appeal, and access to bids given to the Chief Marshal.

Late Thursday night Festival Crociere made an ex parte appeal for a stay of execution to Chief Justice Sir David Simmons.

The Chief Justice ordered that the Chief Marshal should not accept any bids for sale of the boat to the new company, or to sell the boat, until further ordered.

But yesterday that ruling was discharged after the vessel’s mortagee Credit Agricole Indosuez, through its attorneys Lex Caribbean, brought an application for that order to be discharged on the grounds that it would be prejudicial to them to further delay the sale of the boat.

In addition, the Solicitor-General’s Chambers, acting on behalf of the Chief Marshal, also argued that a contract had already formed when the Chief Marshal accepted the bid for the sale of the boat.

She also stated that the Chief Marshal should have been informed on Thursday night of the application.

As a result, Sir David granted the discharge of his former ruling and ordered that the sale was free to be completed because the cost factor of not selling the boat was too great.

In addition, he said, damages would have been an appropriate remedy open to Festival as opposed to the stay of execution.

[ 04-17-2004: Message edited by: RobHolland ]

Dont be surprised to see MSC emerge as the winning bid on the European Stars also when she is auctioned!

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I dont remember any ship except maybe Symphony which they changed the name on!

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Also the Melody, Rhapsody and Monterey got their recent names when they entered the MSC-fleet. I do not hope and think the ship(s) will continue under the Festival-names, as it does not reflect the Italian style of MSC. Festival presented itself as an European cruiseline, while MSC goes for the 'Cruising Italian Style'-concept. It could end up with the Italian Vision and the Italian Stars ....

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Originally posted by gpcruisedude:
Pullmantur seems to only go after ships that have domes over their swimming pools, does anyone know if Mistral has one!

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No dome on the Mistral.

There were some names mentioned in an older thread... suggestions?

Isn´t SYMPHONY a nice name for the new MSC ship? Remember the older SYMPHONY ex ENRICO COSTA.